"Tres bien, mademoiselle," Stevens said, and left.
"What did he say?"
"He said very well. Who's Mrs. Gidot?"
"The Frenchwoman Daphne hired to replace Nina Jackson."
"Where is Nina?"
"How would I know where someone like that is? Really, Ruby. Anyway, I hope you're hungry. Mrs. Gidot is a very good cook and will have something delicious for us to eat, I'm sure."
"I'll just freshen up," I said.
"So will I. I've been crying and dragging myself around so much, I'm sure I look terrible. And Beau will be here in a little while," she added.
My heart started to run away with itself. Just the thought of being face-to-face with Beau again made me tremble. I tried not to let Gisselle see my apprehension.
"Fine," I said, and flashed a smile. Then I hurried out and into the room that had once been so new and wonderful to me, a room in which Beau had first kissed me and in which he had held me and comforted me during Daddy's wake. I smiled when I saw the picture of the little girl and the puppy still on the wall, and then I went to the window and looked out on the tennis courts and the flowers, recalling how I had felt like a princess the first time I had slept here. It had all looked so magical and precious, I could never have imagined the sadness and trouble that loomed above the great house, just waiting to rain down over us all.
I stopped to look into the office before I went to the dining room to join Gisselle for lunch. Just as she had said, Bruce was there thumbing through a stack of papers, an open bottle of bourbon beside them. He wore a jacket and a tie, but the tie was pulled loose. His hair was disheveled and he looked like he hadn't shaved in a week. When he glanced up at me, his first thought was that I was Gisselle, but after he focused, he realized it was I.
"Ruby!" he cried, rising quickly. He bumped into the corner of the desk in his eagerness to embrace me. The stench of whiskey reached me before he did. He hugged me quickly and stepped back. "It's horrible, horrible. I can't believe what's happened."
"Why?" I said sharply. "It happened to my father; it happened to my uncle Jean."
He blinked rapidly and then shook his head.
"Of course, those were terrible tragedies, too, but
Daphne. . . Daphne was at the prime of her life. She was more beautiful than ever. She was . . ."
"I know how wonderful you thought she was, Bruce. I am sorry this has happened. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. There is enough sadness in the world without our contributing to it."
"I knew you would think like that," he said, smiling. "Your sister. . ." He shook his head. "She's gone wild, and with that boyfriend of hers. . they're conspiring against me. I need your help, Ruby."
"My help? You ask for my help?" I nearly laughed aloud.
"You were always the more reasonable one," he said. "And now that you are very well off yourself, you will understand. Daphne and I had certain arrangements," he continued. "Oh, we never put them in writing as such, but we did. She and I discussed what we would do should something happen to one of us, and we agreed that the other should be granted sole power of attorney. If you will have the estate lawyers draw up the papers . . ."
"For years you and Daphne were the
conspirators, Bruce," I said with ice in my voice. "The two of you conspired against my father. You embezzled, you deceived. Only apparently you were partners in crime with a much smarter second half who wrote you out of most of your spoils," I said, gazing at the pile of documents. "I feel sorry for you, but I won't lift a finger to help you," I said. "Take what you've stolen successfully and leave," I advised him. His mouth dropped open.
"But. . La Ruby, you know I always fancied you, and stuck up for you whenever Daphne was too harsh."
"When?" I snapped. "You never had the courage to oppose her, even when you saw her do mean things to me, to my uncle Jean, even to Gisselle. Don't look to me for favors, Bruce."
His eyes narrowed. "You two won't get away with this. I have lawyers also, you know, high-paid, important lawyers and business associates."
"Frankly, I don't care, Bruce. I'm going to leave those battles up to Gisselle."
He smiled wryly. "She stole your boyfriend, you know."
I felt the heat in my face and knew I had turned crimson. "I'm married, Bruce."
His smile widened. "We'll see who gets the last laugh here," he threatened, and returned to the desk.
I went to the dining room and told Gisselle about my conversation with him. She shrugged.